Exploring the higher education experiences of students living with disabilities: an online MBA case study

Abstract

Despite the significant growth of online education worldwide, the online educational experiences of students living with disabilites (SWDs) have been largely overlooked. This research presents an analysis of themes that emerged from in-depth interviews related to the authentic experiences of SWDs. Derived from the experience territory matrix three types of educational experiences that students encounter in their online journey (enchantment, re-enchantment, and disenchantment) were contextualised using the psycho-emotional model of disability. The study identified varying degrees of both enabling and disabling factors (i.e., perceived student-customer orientation, respect, experience quality, structural barriers, and internalised oppression). These factors contribute to the education experiences of SWDs that go beyond the curriculum with implications for institutional guidelines and the design of specific interventions targeting the needs of SWDs. Findings revealed how educational experiences can be improved for SWDs when addressing structural barriers, social interactions, internalised oppressions, and by enhancing student-customer orientation dimensions, and respect.